Back to basics

Credit it to the hip-ness of caffeine or plain old usefulness. Whatever the reason, mugs are still one of the top-selling promotional products. Here at rushIMPRINT alone, we sold a record number of mugs in the last 3 months!

Some of our best-sellers

The trend is not exclusive to our industry. Even gourmet retailers are experiencing the same drift. Sales of mugs have been increasing by at least 1.9 percent every year since 2003, followed closely by sales of espresso and cappuccino makers, which grow at about 1.8 percent yearly.

What is it about mugs that have people hording them like crazy? The answer is versatility, more than anything. Homes and offices across America use mugs for almost every conceivable purpose – for coffee, for cold beer, for serving ice cream, for holding pens, and even as flower pots.

Do the math and you’ll find that mugs are among the most sensible promo items to give out to clients and potential customers:

1. They’re reusable, so your logo and message can be seen a hundred-fold.
2. They’re also affordable – for less than the price of a Happy Meal, you can already leave a long, lasting impression.
3. And best of all, they’re tough. Quality tempered mugs almost never break, so your logo stays intact for years (and are even passed on).

It’s no wonder that the last couple of months have been all about mugs. In fact I have to go now, because last week’s client reordered another shipment, deliverable by tomorrow. I’ll probably need my favorite. Pour the coffee – I’m pulling an all-nighter.